Hockey game



April 16, 1946.

` J. O. SGUIN I HOCKEY GAME Filed Jan. 11, 1945 //////,l///X//////// //////////)V//////////// out of the groove.

Patented Apr. 16, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE Joseph Oscar SfliinEQuebec, Canada Application January 11, 1945, Serial No. 572,391

. In Canada January 18, 1944 f `2 claims. cl. 273-132) The present invention pertains to a novel game board and game pieces which are substituted for animate players inthe playing of hockey or anothergame similar thereto.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a game that is inexpensive and simple in con struction and yet fascinating and involving considerable skill. More particularly, the game embodies a board having grooves in which the game pieces are adapted to slide in an irregular path between substantially any two points on the board. Preferably, the grooves are narrower at the top than at the bottom, each game piece having an enlarged foot so that it cannot be pulled At the edge of the board one hole is formed to permit insertion of the game pieces into the grooves.

The playing of the game may be made more skillful by the provision of several pieces obstructing the grooves at select points. 'Ihese pieces have a limited slidingl movement equivalent to the width of a groove, so that the player has the alternative of avoiding the obstruction entirely or shifting it out of obstructing position.

Another object of the invention, especially in the playing of a game similar to hockey, consists in adapting the game pieces so that they may be actuated to strike the puck. Accordingly, each game piece is equipped with a laterally extending arm adapted to sweep across the upper surface of the board. The game piece is adapted to be turned manually while in the groove, and such movement obviously drives the puck when the latter is struck .by the arm.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the game board;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of one of the game pieces;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the goal member;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a perspective View of one of the groove-obstructing pieces. .y

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 4 is illustrated the base l of the game board having a marginal vertical wall 2. On the base is mounted the game board which consists of blocks 3 spaced from each other at all edges to form grooves 4. The blocks are preferably of uniform width to form straight and parallel grooves in one direction across the board as may be seen in Figure 1, but irregular in the other dimension to form discontinuous paths between the continuous grooves. On each block 3 is mounted a block 5 of similar configuration but larger area than the block on which it rests, the blocks 5 being spaced from each other in the same manner as the blocks 3 and forming a similar system of grooves 6 which however are narrower than the grooves 4.

One of the game pieces is designated by the numeral 1 and has at its lower end a reduced stem 8 at the bottom of which is an enlarged foot 9. The foot is of such size as to t slidably in the grooves 4 while the stem extends through the narrower slot 0r groove 6. Thus, the game pieces cannot be pulled out of the board after they have once been inserted. The pieces are inserted in a hole l0 communicating with the groove system through slots H cut in the trim member l2.

From the body of the piece 1 extends a lateral arm adapted to sweep over the upper surface of the block when turned manually at its knob I4. The arm is adapted to strike and drive a puck of the usual disk shape (not shown) laid on the blocks 5.

Goal members l5 are mounted at the ends of the board in positions corresponding to the positions of the goals on a hockey rink. Each member l5 is three-sided, as shown, in Figure 3 and is mounted by inserting its lower edge in grooves 6. Transverse lines I6 in color drawn across the board and other lines Il in front'of the goals as in a real hockey game. Also, the starting position of the puck is indicated at I8.

The game may be played in any suitable manner with a proper numberV of game'pieces but is preferably played according to the rules of hockey. In this respect the game requires 14 players, namely six reds, six blues, and two sub-- stitutes, two pucks, two goals and one whistle. A red player is placed at one goal and a blue player at the other. One of the pucks is placed at the position indicated by the numeral I8. The remaining players are lined up in proper position. and the starting position of the players may also be indicated on the board if desired.

Two persons represent and operate the respective teams, with a referee who uses the whistle. The game may be played speedily by permitting the two persons to operate their players simultaneously. This is not as accurate and skillful as the slower game wherein the persons must operate the puck alternately, that is, no two players are ever operated simultaneously, although the in contact 'with Iadjacent blocks f5, 'obstructing the groove system at this edge, but leaving the system open at the remaining edges. These obstructing pieces introduce more thought into the game, since the players must decide whether to avoid the obstructed grooves or to take the time to slidel the members 20 and clear the obstruc tion.

Although a specic embodiment of 'theinvention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims What -I claim as my invention is:

1. A game comprising a base,va series of blocks mounted thereon and spaced apart to form a system of inter-communicating grooves, game pieces slidably mounted in said grooves, each piece having a laterally extending arm adapted to sweep over the surface ofsaid blocks, and obstructing members slidably mounted at selected points 'between two adjacent grooves in said system and dimensioned to'obstruct one groove,l said members 'being slidable to the eX- tent of the widthV of av groove to clear the obstructed groove and obstruct another groove.

` 2. A game comprising a base, a series of blocks mounted thereon vand spaced apart to form a system of inter-communicating grooves, game pieces slidably mounted in said grooves, and obstructing members slidably mounted at selected points between ltwo adjacent grooves in said system and dimensioned to obstruct one groove, said members being slidable to the extent of the width of a .groove to clear the obstructed groove and obstruct another groove.

JOSEPH OSCAR sC-UIN. 

